A place to talk about DeHavilland Beavers.

I had the opportunity to upgrade (downgrade? Side slip?) into the Beaver this past summer after a couple years flying 185 and 206 on floats. I hated parts of it, I loved parts of it, and it was my best summer flying so far, by far.

Unfortunately I’ve changed jobs and may not get too much beaver time, especially on floats, in the near future

Would love to hear other people’s life experiences in it and I’m sure there are others who want to live vicariously.

Maybe I missed it but you're just now breaking the news that you fly Beavers?

gdflys wrote:Maybe I missed it but you're just now breaking the news that you fly Beavers?

I had posted some pictures in the float flying thread but that’s about it.

It was a great summer. I’m interested in hearing from other people flying them and what they are doing??

You mentioned you changed jobs, what is your new job?

Thanks for starting this thread! I'd like to hear about turbine Beavers too.

RD wrote:Thanks for starting this thread! I'd like to hear about turbine Beavers too.

They go slow, cost lots of money, last a long time and they are BEAUTIFUL

Here's my Beaver - known as "Black Betty".



Key Details:
1. Imported from Canada in spring 2021
2. 2D30 2 Blade
3. EDO 4580's [the small floats]
4. Civilian model - was originally purchased by Shell Aviation
5. Based at Priest Lake, ID staying in Fresh water
6. Dual Controls

The theme of WBBBBL is "Practical Tactical".

Some of the upgrades I've done since purchasing it are:
1. iPad Mount and Garmin 345 setup for VFR Flying
2. NW Seaplanes and I added a custom rubber floor made of Lonseal -- essential as we have really sandy beaches at Priest lake and typically beach more than dock
3. Added lightweight Heater [I am the STC Holder]
4. Upgraded to fine wires - recommendation of a good friend of mine - it got the idle really low which is great for float flying
5. Sealand rear seats [they were great to work with, and very happy I went in this direction]

Plans for 2023
1. Adding Copilot side Float Hatch [Kenmore STC]
2. Headset holding solution
3. Cargo organizer solution
4. Keep up the propeller maintenance program [greasing it on a schedule]

G44 wrote:You mentioned you changed jobs, what is your new job?

Planning on flying in Talkeetna next summer. Giving up the floats in order to learn skis.

nickelb wrote:Here's my Beaver - known as "Black Betty".

Key Details:
1. Imported from Canada in spring 2021
2. 2D30 2 Blade
3. EDO 4580's [the small floats]
4. Civilian model - was originally purchased by Shell Aviation
5. Based at Priest Lake, ID staying in Fresh water
6. Dual Controls

The theme of WBBBBL is "Practical Tactical".

Some of the upgrades I've done since purchasing it are:
1. iPad Mount and Garmin 345 setup for VFR Flying
2. NW Seaplanes and I added a custom rubber floor made of Lonseal -- essential as we have really sandy beaches at Priest lake and typically beach more than dock
3. Added lightweight Heater [I am the STC Holder]
4. Upgraded to fine wires - recommendation of a good friend of mine - it got the idle really low which is great for float flying
5. Sealand rear seats [they were great to work with, and very happy I went in this direction]

Plans for 2023
1. Adding Copilot side Float Hatch [Kenmore STC]
2. Headset holding solution
3. Cargo organizer solution
4. Keep up the propeller maintenance program [greasing it on a schedule]

Pic didn't work but sounds awesome. After flying behind the io550's in the cessnas, the super low idle of 985 when I'm taxiing in to park makes me feel so cool.

Tried to fix photo

Beautiful Beaver, I still remember riding on Kenmore's and getting to sit in the co pilot seat for I think $45 in the late 1990's. It was a round trip where I couldn't get off and only if they weren't full. From home base down to Lake Union, then up to Roche and Friday Harbor's and back the same way.

nickelb wrote:

Tried to fix photo

Wow, that’s gorgeous. Although in my experience, low ambient light and some string lights make everyone more attractive haha. Would love to see more pictures of the inside and such. Also any info you wanted to share on your unique mods like the heater or floor would definitely be interesting. Thanks for sharing

Here are some more photos of the heater and the flooring project - I will have to dig up more of the panel etc

https://backcountrypilot.org/me/my-phot ... bumid=7034

That's some serious Beaver porn

nickelb wrote:Here are some more photos of the heater and the flooring project - I will have to dig up more of the panel etc

https://backcountrypilot.org/me/my-phot ... bumid=7034

Nice looking airplane. Hard to tell, but do you have the original 4580 water rudders? On Kodiak, lots of wind and I found those rudders wanting. Our maintenance guys fabricated a set of 4930 size rudder blades and installed…..much better! And easy.

I REALLY like that flooring! Very nice! And that heater looks nice too. At one point, I’d been operating the only Beaver on Kodiak for a year or so. One of the air taxi outfits bought one and parked it in Lilly Lake next to our Super Cub. One day, their Beaver pilot asked if my Beaver had good cabin heat. I answered not really, but it was good enough for Kodiak.

He noted that their Beaver had almost no heat. I’m standing there, looking at the right side of their plane, and there was NO external heat system attached to that exhaust stack. All I could do to keep from laughing…..I noted that the only heat he was getting was from him moving that big cabin heat lever…..cause there ain’t no heater on that plane.

MTV

nickelb wrote:Here are some more photos of the heater and the flooring project - I will have to dig up more of the panel etc

https://backcountrypilot.org/me/my-phot ... bumid=7034

Looks like someone put a military floor in that machine at some point, at least for the pilot seats. Those military seats are a big safety upgrade over the civilian pilot seats.

Did somebody put tip tank wings on it too?

I really do need to inspect that thing in person at some point Kevin.

I believe I do have the original water rudders, not issues yet! but I will keep an eye out for a set of 4930 blades thank you for the tip!

I do have the military floor yes - will take more photos when I'm at the hangar. I actually love the military seats, they have nice new padding in them that matches the rear benches.

It does have tip tanks on it yet. Hope you can make it to the next fly in or I'll let you know when I'm over at Kenmore next. It should be there in the spring to get another float hatch installed.

Cheers

Are there any mods/seats available for more legroom?

Mainly just curious. I’m a big dude (as seen in orange vest in one of my original pics) and a few more inches would’ve been great. Also the yoke was basically always touching my leg. Good for flying while eating lunch I guess.

For how big it is, none of the beaver seats are actually very roomy…

asa wrote:Are there any mods/seats available for more legroom?

Mainly just curious. I’m a big dude (as seen in orange vest in one of my original pics) and a few more inches would’ve been great. Also the yoke was basically always touching my leg. Good for flying while eating lunch I guess.

For how big it is, none of the beaver seats are actually very roomy…

Agreed, back then, people were smaller in general. Look at the cockpit of a Spitfire….

Fortunately for me, the Beaver cockpit was a good fit.

MTV

asa wrote:Are there any mods/seats available for more legroom?

Mainly just curious. I’m a big dude (as seen in orange vest in one of my original pics) and a few more inches would’ve been great. Also the yoke was basically always touching my leg. Good for flying while eating lunch I guess.

For how big it is, none of the beaver seats are actually very roomy…

Wipaire has an STC to install Cessna infinitely adjustable pilot seats on a custom set of rails. It certainly doesn’t look right but it makes the airplane much more comfortable. I’m also pretty tall and find the stock military seat very confining.

Story goes that the beaver cockpit was sized around Russ Bannock, Canadian fighter ace and DHC sales/test pilot. He was a little dude.

I have this Cessna seat STC in my beaver. I really like it compared to the de havilan seats